New York-based lawyer Edmonds Allen wrote letter to Modi.
Varun Gandhi, BJP parliamentarian and the son of union minister Maneka Gandhi landed in a controversy after Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav alleged that the MP from Sultanpur shared sensitive information about the defense deals of India with Abhishek Verma, the beleaguered arms dealer who is facing an investigation.
The allegation was based on a letter written by the New York-based lawyer Edmonds Allen to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September this year.
According to the letter, Gandhi, who was a member of the Defence Consultative Committee, was honey trapped and blackmailed by Verma to share sensitive defense information with the arms dealer. Allen has reportedly submitted a CD with pictures of Gandhi with foreign escorts and prostitutes.
Allen was an associate of Verma, who is facing trial in many cases including the Scorpene submarines deal, Agusta Westland VVIP helicopters bribery scandal and Navy War Room Leak Case, before breaking up with him in 2012. After the fallout, he shared several documents related to Verma’s dealings with the Indian government leading to the arms dealers arrest. Verma is out on bail now.
Allen has requested the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to initiate an inquiry into the matter. But, PMO hasn’t taken any action against the leader so far.
Bhushan alleged that the union government did not take any action against Thales, the company that sold the Scorpene submarines even after receiving the details.
“Any action against Thales may have jeopardized the Rafale deal. Moreover, contrary to previous announcements of getting 126 aircraft, the government bought 36 aircraft, paying double the price for individual units. It certainly appears to be the case that something is fishy,” Bhushan said.
Refusing the allegations, Varun Gandhi said that the charges were too ridiculous to comment on.
“The entire information presented does not contain an iota of proof that either I had access or shared any communication regarding sensitive information to Verma,” Gandhi told The Times of India.
“I am going to turn 37 now. I have never met him since I entered public life in 2004. The only reason why I even know of him is because his parents were members of Parliament and was a respected family. I knew them as many other leaders knew them,” he said.
The allegations are likely to trouble the BJP as the party is going to face state assembly elections in many states.